Saturday, October 28, 2017

Experiencing Peace in our lives

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/524176844101007889/


 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; 
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
  Psalm 4:8  (ESV)

Have you ever wondered how we can experience personal peace or God’s peace in our lives?

Surrender- acceptance of certain aspects of our lives. Giving those conditions over to God. We have to ask God to lead us through the circumstances that come our way. We sometimes think our issue is too small or too large for God to handle. Once we learn that God is concerned about All things that vex us, we realize that God may have allowed the issue in order for us to grow spiritually.

Seeking God’s help in circumstances, especially those we can’t do anything about. Also, those that overwhelm us.
We may have to ask a friend or a group of friends to pray for us. Sometimes all we have to do is ask. Certain issues are so delicate that we can ask for prayer for an unspoken need. We may need to fast a meal or two. Maybe fast from certain activities and spend that time talking to God.

Yielding self (allegiance) to Jesus in all areas of our lives.
We have to tell God that we are not in control of our lives and give Him complete control of all we do and say. Once we give Him our minds and our hearts, things become clearer and we can begin to function as we must.


Thursday, October 26, 2017

Peace through Christ

http://www.clker.com/clipart-peace-dove-1.html


Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1-2 (ESV)

As I reflect on the events that surrounded me this month, I see God’s hand in restoring peace to people whom God loves.

Our scripture passage, written by the Apostle Paul, tells us God looks on us and sees our faith. Then He views each of us ‘just-as-if-I’d’ not sinned.

Because God looks upon us in this new way, we experience peace in our hearts and peace in our lives. We can wake up each day without feeling as if a cloud hangs over our heads.

This is not to say we won’t have concerns again. We will have them crop up because we are still human. We have a Savior who loves each of us and wants what is according to His will for our lives.

We can trust God to bring us safely through the travails of our earthly life. When we learn to rely on Him, we experience His peace.


Prayer Dear Lord God, We thank You that You have deemed us sinless and have given us Your peace. We realize we are unworthy of it and for this we also give thanks. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. AMEN

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

"I AM"

I am re-running this post from 2010. I enjoyed the message when I saw it. I still find comfort in it today.



(I found this on my late sister-in-law’s refrigerator when we were helping clear out her apartment. I like the listing of several aspects of God.)





While praying one day, A woman asked, “Who are You, Lord?”

He answered, “I AM”

“But, who is I AM?’ she asked.

And He replied. . .”I Am Love, I Am Peace,

I Am Grace, I Am Joy,

I Am the Way, Truth, And the Light. . .

I Am the Comforter,

I Am Strength, I Am Safety,

I Am Shelter, I Am Power, I Am The Creator

I am the Beginning And The End,

I Am the Most High.”



The woman, with tears in her eyes, looked toward Heaven and said, “Now I understand. But Lord, Who am I? Then God tenderly wiped the tears from her eyes and whispered, “You are mine.”

Monday, October 23, 2017

Simon Peter and the Risen Christ

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs022/1103767629530

That disciple whom Jesus loved, therefore, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. John 21: 7 (ESV)

Simon Peter and six other disciples came together on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
He told the others, “I am going fishing.” The others agreed they would like to also do that.

They fished all night long and did not catch anything. At daybreak, they heard a voice. The voice asked, “Children, did you catch any fish?” They responded they had not. The person who appeared to be a stranger told them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat. The netted a huge quantity of fish.

John suddenly recognized the man on the shore, “It is the LORD!” Simon Peter heard John’s words and removed his outer garment, “dove into the sea.”

Have you wondered why Simon Peter did that?
Let’s keep in mind that Simon Peter denied Christ not once, not twice, but three times. We know he was tempestuous, not thinking things through before taking actions. Might he have been so thrilled to see Jesus that he threw caution to the wind in order to get to talk to Him? He may have realized how much he loved the LORD. He might have wanted to tell Him that. Maybe, he desired some one-on-one time with Jesus in order to ‘clear the air.’

What would we have done? Would we have swum to the shore in an effort to see the risen Jesus first? Or would we have tried to hide behind some of the other disciples because we were ashamed of our earlier behavior? I believe that at least one time in my life I would have cowered and even hid behind a tree or a post because of my fear and shame. As I have matured in Christ, I realize that I would be wrong in trying to hide from Jesus.
Psalm 139:7-8 tells me I can’t hide from God.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend the heavens, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (ESV)



God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...